JM-PH-2007-72

7/18/2007

Underlying symmetry among the quark

and lepton mixing angles

J. S. Markovitch

Abstract

The six quark and lepton mixing angles are generated with the aid of three related forms of

symmetry, and three constants that derive from the fine structure constant.
I. Introduction

We demonstrate that the six quark and lepton mixing angles can be generated with

the aid of three related forms of symmetry, and three constants that derive from the fme

structure constant.

We begin by defining the leptonic mass mixing matrix conventionally, but without the

usual phases [1]

(la)

where sij == sin(tpij) and cij == cos(tpij)' These CPu's represent the leptonic mixing angles.

Additionally, we note that

(lb)

We define the quark mass mixing matrix in the same way, but this time we deviate from

convention both by omitting its phase, and by swapping its c- and t-quarks [2]. Accordingly, we

let

2
"

(2a)

where sij == sin(Oij) and eij == cos(Oij) ' These By's represent the quark mixing angles.

Additionally, we note that

(2b)

which is consistent with the earlier-mentioned swap of the c- and t-quarks,

We also define

[U;, U;2 U;3]

L= U~l U~2 U~3 (3a)
U;l U;2 U;3

and

r:;
Q= [V"~
~~ ~; V~l
~; (3b)
Vc ! ~: Vc!

in order to impose the Principal Symmetry Condition

L ­ LT = N x (Q _ QT) (4)

3
.

on the quark and lepton mixing angles. Note that N, which represents the number of quark

colors, equals 3.

In order to fulfill this condition we now define the following parametric equations.

U J2 =~MLN Un =~Ms

V12 =~ML

These in tum generate the quark and lepton mixing angles as follows

CfJl3 = sin -J (Ul3 x sin(e~3))

where

(5a)

F or later use we also define

(5b)

II. Generating the quark and lepton mixing angles

Now, by letting

1
M=­ (6a)
L 10'

4
 1
Ms = 30000 ',and, (6b)

tp23 =4Y , (6c)

and by requiring that the principal symmetry condition be fulfilled, we generate the following

good approximations of the quark and lepton mixing angles.

tpI2 =33.21 r tpl3 =0.014° tp23 =45°

023 =92.36T

The reader will note that the high value for ()23 (about 92.3674418°) is a result of the earlier swap

of the c- and t-quarks, and that subtracting 90° from ()23 produces this angle expressed in the

usual way.

III. The primary symmetry's two subordinate symmetries

It is important to realize that the parametric equations embody two additional

symmetries. To be specific, if

(7a)

then any values chosen for

M s, N, and B~3

5
will produce values for the remaining mixing angles tp13 and 013 that are guaranteed to fulfill the

principal symmetry condition.

Equally, if

(7b)

then any values chosen for

will produce values-in this case for tpl2 and Ol2-that are guaranteed to fulfill the principal

symmetry condition.

These two Subordinate Symmetries explain why the parametric equations take the form

they do: they are designed to guarantee fulfillment of these two additional symmetries. Hence

the form of the parametric equations cannot be regarded as a degree of freedom exploited to fit

the mixing data.

IV. The fine structure constant

It is noteworthy that the values for ML and Msthat fit the mixing data, also fix U12, U13,

V12, and V13 in such a way as to allow them act in concert to produce this close approximation of

the fine structure constant inverse

(U -2 2)3 + (-2
12 -Vl3
2)2 = 137.0360000023....
V 12 -U 13 (8)

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Remarkably, this equation reproduces the fine structure constant inverse to within about two

parts per billion of its corresponding 2006 CODATA value of 137.035999679 (94) [3].

Moreover, if one regards the integers 1 / ML and 1 / Ms as chosen to fit 137.036,then the

quark and lepton mixing angles generated earlier may be said to arise from equations exploiting

just one free parameter: tp23 ; which is to say the six quark and lepton mixing angles are fully

determined by the two fine-structure-related integers (1 / ML and 1 / M s), the three symmetries

already explained (the Principal and two Subordinate), and tp23 = 45" .

However, one can carry this one step further. IfEq. (8) is restated purely in terms of

mixing angles

then it is only the equivalence

.(,)2 = SIn
SIn tp23
.(tp23 )2 (10)

which allows it to be rewritten still more symmetrically as

Accordingly, tp23 = 45" is not a truly free parameter, but precisely that value needed to make this

more symmetrical equation possible. It follows that the earlier parametric equations generate the

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six quark and lepton mixing angles while exploiting not one free parameter, but essentially no

free parameters.

References

[1] B. Kayser, "Neutrino Mass, Mixing, and Flavor Change," in Yao, W. M., et al. (Particle

Data Group), J. Phys. G 33, 1 (2006).

[2] A. Ceccucci, Z. Ligeti, and Y. Sakai, "The CKM Quark-Mixing Matrix," in Yao, W. M., et

al. (Particle Data Group), J. Phys. G 33, 1 (2006).

[3] P.J. Mohr, B.N. Taylor, and D.B. Newell (2007), "The 2006 CODATA Recommended

Values of the Fundamental Physical Constants" (Web Version 5.0). This database was

developed by J. Baker, M. Douma, and S. Kotochigova. Available:

http://physics.nist.gov/constants [2007, July 12]. National Institute of Standards and

Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.